Manuel looks for a break

Ball continues to bounce against Sox's interests

SEATTLE — Trying to gauge the mood of a team is relatively simple. Just hang around the batting cage and see if anyone is talking.

Suffice to say that the White Sox's batting practice sessions could be held inside a library.

"They're fine," manager Jerry Manuel insisted before Wednesday's game at Safeco Field against the Seattle Mariners. "But they're all a little concerned. You can't come out here joking and laughing if you're not getting the job done.

"When you get on a roll, you can do what you want to do. Right now you have to be serious about your craft. It's never fun when you're losing. No one here is going to have fun at my expense. They understand that."

Losses like Tuesday night's 4-3 defeat at the hands of the Mariners can have a cumulative effect on a ballclub. It was yet another close game the White Sox could have won.

"We've had some heartbreakers," Manuel said. "We've had some tough, tough losses--obviously tougher than ones I remember in the past. To have so many tough setbacks so early is difficult. You feel you're in a game and a break here or there would really turn the tables for you."

Manuel pointed to two plays in Tuesday night's game that have exemplified the Sox's season.

In the Sox's half of the first inning, Harold Baines hit a shot off the leg of Seattle pitcher Aaron Sele, but the ball deflected off base runner Magglio Ordonez's leg straight to second baseman Bret Boone, who easily threw Baines out at first.

In the Seattle half of the seventh, John Olerud hit a shot that deflected off Bob Howry's glove and angled off into right field, with the slow-moving Edgar Martinez advancing from first to third and eventually scoring the winning run.

"The breaks haven't happened," Manuel said.

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The outcome of the White Sox-Mariners game was unavailable until later editions because of its late start.